Detectors to be phased in at all MLB parks for 2015 season

The Cincinnati Reds announced Thursday that as part of Major League Baseball’s initiative to standardize security procedures at all 30 Major League parks for the start of the 2015 season, walk-through metal detectors will be phased-in at Great American Ball Park beginning on Friday for the start of the upcoming homestand.

The Cincinnati Reds announced Thursday that as part of Major League Baseball’s initiative to standardize security procedures at all 30 Major League parks for the start of the 2015 season, walk-through metal detectors will be phased-in at Great American Ball Park beginning on Friday for the start of the upcoming homestand.

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The new metal detectors will be at the main ballpark gates on Crosley Terrace in an effort to acclimate fans and staff to the new procedures before the 2015 mandate.

All fans will be asked to remove cellphones and large metal objects from their pockets before walking through the metal detectors, according to park officials.

"The thing that's going to set them off other than weapons is going to be devices such as iPhones or iPads. Have those things out," said Tim O'Connell, vice president of ballpark operations at Great American Ball Park.

Guests that cannot walk through the metal detectors due to medical conditions have the option of being manually checked with a hand-held detector.

These procedures, which result from MLB’s continuing work with the Department of Homeland Security to strengthen and standardize security practices in all 30 major league ballparks, will be in addition to bag checks that are now uniform throughout all of MLB.

“The safety of our fans is the No. 1 priority for us at Great American Ball Park,” said O’Connell. “We are committed to the procedures that MLB has asked us to implement and our staff is dedicated to maintaining the highest security standards possible.”

"I don't think it's necessarily a bad thing. I think as long as the ballpark experience is still good, I think it's great," said Paul Goebel.

"I don't see it as an infringement on my rights. As a matter of fact, I think it's protecting my rights," baseball fan Betty Joyner said.

Ballpark employees said they were told the estimated average time per person to get through the gates is three seconds.

"So this weekend we're going to do a soft opening of this with the beginning of the home stand where we're going to start seeing what those times are," said O'Connell.

Reds representatives said they hope the soft opening will get fans and employees familiar with the system and adjustments will be made as necessary.

Beginning in 2015, all game-day entrances to Great American Ball Park will follow this protocol.